Fight for remedial literacy funding

Last year my wish was: I want community leaders to stand behind the schools.

That did not work out well. A lot of lip service but no action. The governor and Legislature once again failed to follow words with actions. Despite warnings that as many as 8,000 Iowa third-graders could be held back starting in 2017, Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds failed to include the $9 million requested by their own Department of Education in the 2016 budget. This was the death blow to any attempt to find funding for a program which offered assistance to those struggling readers. These are children who are confronted with a barrier to learning which will have adverse consequences to their lives as well as their communities.

My children are not in that group. I suspect the same can be said for many of the parents and grandparents who are reading this article. However, that does not relieve us of our responsibility to society. I believe we have a moral obligation to speak for those who are not in a position to speak for themselves. Every child should be able to read at their grade level. This is not a luxury but an educational necessity.

Last spring, I attempted to rally members of the business community to convince the governor and Legislature to provide funding for a remedial reading program. Sadly, despite much hand wringing and lip service, nothing happened. Many who are in a position to influence do not want to rock the boat. Others are convinced their voice will not be heard. Guess what? This is what they are counting on in Des Moines.

Last April, the governor and Legislature congratulated themselves because they had found 'common ground rather than send state government into gridlock”. Unfortunately that common ground came at the expense of supporting children in need of assistance. As I spoke to leaders about this problem; they consistently discussed the need to be fiscally sound. What they neglected to address was the governor and Legislature's failure to take into consideration future needs when they passed unprecedented commercial property tax relief. As a commercial property owner, I am all for lower property taxes. However, I feel very guilty now being told that relief came at the cost of educating Iowa's children.

My wish for the New Year is simple: I want community leaders, the governor and the Legislature to fully fund the remedial literacy programs needed in our schools for those struggling 8,000 third-grader readers.

We owe it to those children to fulfill our commitment to provide a quality education for all.

' Tim Terry founded the accounting firm of Terry Lockridge & Dunn in 1978; in 1991 he founded the investment firm World Trend Financial. He serves on the board of directors for UNESCO City of Literature. From 2003 to 2013 he was president of the board of Willowwind School in Iowa City. Comments: tterry@tld-inc.com